Sports noisemaker

ABSTRACT

A noisemaker having a handle with a head at one end with a device for making noise inside the head or handle. The noisemaker also has a strap that functions as a tether or a necklace that can be placed around the user&#39;s wrist or neck to keep the noisemaker from being dropped or lost, for example while cheering, eating or drinking. The head and/or the handle is hollow so that candy or other food items, keys, clothing, money or other items may be stored inside. The noisemaking device includes one or more bells, a whistle, or an electronic device. The outer surface of the head preferably has the shape of an item related to a sporting event.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a nonprovisional of Provisional Application No. 60/195,173, filed Apr. 6, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to cheering mechanisms or noisemakers, and, more particularly to noisemakers used by sports fans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Noisemakers have been around for a long time and have been used to help show a user's enthusiasm at an event, particularly at sporting events. Generally, a noisemaker can make more noise, louder noise and/or different noises than a person's hand or voice alone, particularly over a long period of time.

[0004] At a long event, people generally will wish to eat, and sporting events in particular often include food. Often it is difficult, however, to eat and/or drink, while watching or participating in the event, and holding a noisemaker at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention relates to improvements in cheering mechanisms, commonly referred to as noisemakers, and particularly noisemakers used at sporting events. The noisemaker made in accordance with the invention includes the combination of a noisemaking device in a head and handle combination that is at least partially hollow to provide storage, and a strap for holding onto the noisemaker when the user's hands are otherwise occupied.

[0006] The noisemaker includes a shell having a head portion and a handle portion connected to the head portion, a means for making noise contained in the shell, and a strap connected to the shell. The shell is hollow and has an accessible interior.

[0007] More specifically, the noisemaker includes a handle portion that is detachable from the head portion to provide access to the interior of the shell. Preferably, the handle portion is detachably connected to the head portion with a threaded connection. The head portion has a maximum dimension of approximately three and a half inches and the handle portion generally has a cylindrical shape with a length of approximately seven inches and a diameter of approximately two inches.

[0008] The means for making noise is a noisemaking device at least partially contained within the head portion, and may be contained entirely within the head portion. The means for making noise includes a plurality of bells that make noise when the noisemaker is shaken.

[0009] The strap is at least approximately sixteen inches long so that the noisemaker can be worn about the user's neck, and can be shaken without removing the strap from around the user's neck.

[0010] These features of the noisemaker provide convenient storage and secure the noisemaker to a person so that the noisemaker is not lost during the excitement of an event. At the same time, the noisemaker can be used to make a louder noise than a person could make for a sustained period of time.

[0011] The foregoing and other features of the invention are more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and annexed drawings set forth in detail an illustrative embodiment, this embodiment being indicative of but one of the various ways in which the principals of invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of a noisemaker according to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a noisemaker 10 made in accordance with the present invention includes the combination of three elements: an at least partially hollow shell 20, a noisemaking device 30 at least partially contained within the shell, and a tether or strap 40 connected to the shell.

[0019] The shell includes a head portion 50 (generally referred to as the head) and a handle portion 60 (generally referred to as the handle). The head may take a variety of shapes, and might relate to the event for which the noisemaker will be used. For example, the head could have the shape of a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a baseball batting helmet, a football helmet, a hockey helmet, a baseball bat, a flag, a pennant, a mascot, or any other shape. Several exemplary embodiments of the head of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 2-6, identified by reference numbers 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70, respectively. Of course, other shapes can be used as well. In the illustrated embodiments, the head has a maximum dimension of about three and a half inches.

[0020] The shell 20 generally is made of plastic and is at least partially hollow. One or more noisemaking devices 30 are at least partially contained within the shell. However, if the one or more noisemaking devices are contained within the handle 60, then when a user grasps the handle, the user's hand may undesirably reduce the noise produced by the noisemaking devices. The noisemaking devices may include one or more bells, balls, or other items that can be shaken against each other, and/or against the walls of the shell to produce noise. In the illustrated embodiment, the head 50 contains a plurality of bells 90 suspended therein that make noise when shaken.

[0021] In addition or as an alternative, the noisemaking device 30 may include an electronic noisemaking device. The electronic noisemaking device may include an electronic circuit, a power supply, such as one or more batteries, and a speaker for producing one or more noises generated by the electronic circuit. A noisemaker containing an electronic noisemaking device also may include a sensor for detecting when the noisemaker is being shaken so as to cause the electronic noisemaking device to produce sound when shaken. The electronic noisemaking device may include a button or switch convenient to the handle for turning the noisemaker on and off whenever the user wants to make or to stop making noise.

[0022] The shell 20 may be formed as a single unit, or the head 50 and the handle 60 may be formed separately and then connected together. In the illustrated embodiment, the head is connected to the handle through a threaded extension 100 of the head that mates with a threaded end 110 of the handle. Other connections could be used in the alternative or in addition to the threaded connection between the head and the handle.

[0023] The handle 60 provides a convenient place for the user to hold the noisemaker 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle has a generally cylindrical shape with a length of about seven inches and a diameter of about two inches. Alternatively, the handle may have a different shape, such as a D-shape.

[0024] Preferably, the handle 60 is hollow so that a variety of items can be stored within the handle. For example, the handle may be adapted to hold keys, money, clothing, such as a raincoat, food, such as peanuts, candy, or a drink, or any other items that a person would not wish to hold during the event.

[0025] Preferably, the interior of the shell 20 is easily accessible so that items may conveniently be stored and retrieved from inside. The threaded connection between the head 50 and the handle 60, for example, might provide access to the hollow interior by detaching the head from the handle. However, the shell may contain another way to access the interior, such as a sliding door in some portion of the head, or a detachable cap on an end of the handle opposite the head.

[0026] In addition to the head 50 and the handle 60, the noisemaker 10 includes a flexible looped strap 40 connected to the shell 20 to enable the user to hold onto the noisemaker when the user does not have a free hand. The strap may be hung or wrapped around the wrist, or the strap may be long enough for the user to hang the noisemaker around the user's neck. In the latter case, the strap should be long enough, at least about sixteen inches, to allow the user to grasp the handle of the noisemaker and make noise without taking the noisemaker off of the user's neck. The strap is connected to the handle and/or to the head of the noisemaker. The strap also may be removable so that the user can separate the strap from the noisemaker during use, or so that the strap can be left behind when the user does not wish to use it.

[0027] Although the illustrated embodiments of the present invention are specifically designed for use at a sporting event, the noisemaker 10 can be used any time that a person wishes to make noise. Such events could include amateur or professional sports, parties, political rallies, religious services, etc. The noisemaker could have different shapes for different events, and could be offered with interchangeable heads, handles and/or straps.

[0028] Along with a different appearance or shape for the head 50, the noisemaker 10 also could provide different noises, for different events for example. The varying noises may be achieved by providing interchangeable noisemaking devices. The noisemaker also could provide interchangeable heads or handles, with each head or handle having different noisemaking devices therein. Varying noises also could be achieved by use of an electronic noisemaking device capable of selectively making different noises.

[0029] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain illustrative embodiments, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described integers (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such integers are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any integer which performs the specified function of the described integer (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A noisemaker comprising a shell having a head portion and a handle portion connected to the head portion, means for making noise contained in the shell, and a strap connected to the shell; wherein the shell is hollow and has an accessible interior.
 2. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the handle portion is detachable from the head portion to provide access to the interior of the shell.
 3. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the handle portion is detachably connected to the head portion with a threaded connection.
 4. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the means for making noise is a noisemaking device at least partially contained within the head portion.
 5. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the means for making noise is located inside the head portion.
 6. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the means for making noise includes a plurality of bells.
 7. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the strap is at least approximately sixteen inches long.
 8. A noisemaker as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the head portion has a maximum dimension of approximately three and a half inches and the handle portion generally has a cylindrical shape with a length of approximately seven inches and a diameter of approximately two inches. 